Volunteering Sparks Hometown Pride

GREENVILLE, Ohio ­ 2013 Main Street Greenville Volunteer, Amy Barger, shares with us her story of why she chose to volunteer with the organization this summer and how it has changed her view on the
community she grew up in.

There are several reasons I decided to volunteer for Main Street Greenville this summer. I will start by explaining how I used to think of Greenville. When you have grown up in a small town for 18 years and it is all you have ever known, you crave to leave. You are young, you realize this world is bigger than Greenville and there is so much to discover. I used to simplify Greenville as, “a boring, uninteresting small town with nothing to do”, and I know I am not the only young person who has thought the same way. I didn't volunteer as much as I should have and I always had the mindset that it was Greenville's fault and if it were to become something wonderful, it would just magically happen.

Having those feelings and a hunger for culture, I chose to move to Chicago in 2009 to study photography in college. It is everything I imagined it would be and more; always things to do and many different people with different backgrounds. I learned a lot about the city life, how people work, and most importantly I learned a lot about myself and who I am. As I matured as a person and a photographer, I realized I gravitated towards humanism and connections in the world. Look back on my portfolio and you will mostly see images of people connecting with each other or connecting with their environment.

Photography allows you to see everything a little differently. Something magical happens when you realize the phenomenon of connections through the lens of your camera. I begin realizing things are not always as they appear to be, nothing is ever completely bad or good, and there is always something to learn from each connection. When something bad happens, it gives you an opportunity to learn how to make it better and when something good happens, you appreciate it even more and embrace it. When something good is happening, try not to take it for granted. I have grown to open my eyes wider and I strive to see; to not overlook and shrug it off as unimportant. I believe anything happening in this world is important, not only in the city.

I learned the fun things happening in Chicago were mostly made possible by the Chicago communities coming together to make them happen. Chicago (or any other larger city) isn't a place where fun things come out of thin air, they exist through hard work and effort of the people who live and work there. This truly made me want to be an active citizen. When I heard about Main Street Greenville and it's mission for our downtown, I figured I could become active in my hometown.

Within a week, I saw how much Main Street Greenville has changed our downtown and how much it contributes to community bonding and interest, which is everything I want to be apart of and everything I thought Greenville couldn't be. This has been an amazing opportunity to grow my photographic portfolio as well as give back to my hometown, which has shaped me as a person. Greenville deserves more credit than I have given it in the past. I am empathetic and mindful of people because I have been raised around the people of Greenville.

When I buy merchandise or pay for a service from a small business on Broadway, I know my money is going to good people who give back to the community or who support shopping local among their neighbors. Greenville has a unique, positive identity. I have seen first hand how small business owners and Main Street Greenville have come together to spark creative ideas to not only help their businesses but help develop the culture and identity of Downtown Greenville, Ohio.

The images I have captured show a close-knit community where fond memories are made, with each event making all of us closer. As a former cynical teenager of Greenville, I am now one of it's biggest cheerleaders. Greenville is amazing because we make it amazing, and I hope everyone (old & young) living in Greenville grows to realize - you gain as much from your community as you choose to give
back to it.

The 2013 Main Street Greenville volunteer interns are thrilled to present This is Main Street ­ A Photography Exhibit on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at The Bistro Off Broadway (117 E. Fifth St.). This is Main Street will serve as a final project to be used as a portfolio piece for interns, Amy Barger, Brealyn Eckstein and Sean Wolfe from their Main Street Greenville internship experience. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet the new Main Street Greenville Executive Director, Amber Garrett.

This event will serve as a fundraiser for Main Street Greenville, a non­profit organization committed to stimulating and supporting revitalization, historic preservation, and economic growth in Historic Downtown Greenville. Guests who attend This is Main Street will have the opportunity to purchase dinner and drinks at The Bistro (tickets aren’t required to enjoy dinner with The Bisto during the event), with 10% of each bill going toward Main Street Greenville. Additionally, all photos displayed will be available for purchase with proceeds going back to the organization.

Tickets for This is Main Street are $7 (children 12 & under are free) and are available for purchase before the event online at www.regonline.com/thisismainstreet or at various downtown businesses
including, AAA, The A&B Coffee & Cake Co., Hallmark, Montage and Boutique on Broadway.

We hope you can join us to support the creativity of three young people who chose to give back to their community this summer.